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Showalter hopes Flaherty can regain confidence

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Flaherty's two-run single 0:40

5/5/13: Ryan Flaherty pushes the Orioles' lead to 8-4 with a two-run single to left in the top of the eighth

By Brittany Ghiroli
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MLB.com |

BALTIMORE -- Orioles infielder Ryan Flaherty, who was optioned following Saturday's loss, will get consistent at-bats in a variety of positions at Triple-A Norfolk as the organization tries to get him back on track.

"There's just a ... I don't want to use karma, but he needs to go get his legs back under him; offensively, his confidence, everything," manager Buck Showalter said of Flaherty, who hit .133 in 30 games. "Probably the first time in his offensive career that he feels that frustrated with the way things are going for him. He's better than that. We saw it this spring, we saw it at times this year.

"You know what happens is it snowballs. He has a good game and the next day hits two line drives at somebody and you starting getting that mentality of, 'Geez, what's going to happen next?' and you got to change that. How do you change that? I'm hoping this helps him. I talked to [Triple-A manager Ron Johnson] about it and they will be perfect for him for what he needs, because they are certainly not going to let him feel sorry for himself down there. In a good way."

Flaherty, the team's Rule 5 Draft pick last year, never really got going this year after enduring an 0-for-17 slump to start the season. The 26-year-old played solid defense at second base, getting the bulk of the time with Brian Roberts on the disabled list, and he will get a chance to work out his offensive struggles at Triple-A.

"I'm OK with him playing everywhere," Showalter said of the versatile Flaherty, who can play the infield and outfield and was replaced on the roster with Danny Valencia. "I just want him to get the at-bats. Who knows where he might return at? I hope it's not because somebody has been injured. But I think it might be good for him to play all around."